Page 86 of Never and Always
The screen went black and I snatched up my phone. The screen saidMom calling.
“Hi, Mom.”
“Piper.”
At her tone, my blood ran cold. Had Chance called her, or turned up there?
Worse, had any of Rocha’s goons gone after my mother?
“Are you all right? What’s happened?”
I heard her shaky breath. “I’m fine.” She paused. “It’s your grandmother.”
Everything inside me froze.
“She’s in the hospital. It’s her heart again. She had a spell…” There was a sniffle. “I found her on the floor in the kitchen.”
“Oh, Mom—” I couldn’t think. I couldn’t breathe.
“She’s alive, doll. The ambulance came. We’re at the hospital and… Well, I’m waiting for news. They can’t tell me anything yet and they aren’t sure if she’ll…” Mom let out a small sob.
My throat was so tight. I tried to get my brain to work. I needed a plan. Mom needed help.
The thought of losing Gram…
“Hey, Piper—” Everett strolled in.
I turned my head and looked at him.
“Babe.” His face changed and he went down on one knee, pressing a palm to my leg. “What’s wrong? Has something happened? Is it Chance?”
All I could do was shake my head. I couldn’t get my brain functioning.
Scowling, he took the phone from my hand.
“Who is this?” His shoulders relaxed. “Hi, Ms. Ellis, I’m Everett. I work with Piper.” There was a pause. “I’m sorry to hear that. What hospital? Okay. Don’t worry, I’ll take care of everything, including Piper. Okay, we’ll talk soon.”
He ended the call and set my phone on the table. “Babe?—”
“It’s her heart again,” I whispered. “We can’t lose her. I can’t lose her…”
“Hey.” He pulled me out of the chair and into his arms.
God, he felt so good. I held on tight.
I felt like I was caught in the storm, on a wild sea, but Everett was a rock. One that the waves could crash on, but he remained unmoved. I clung, my hands moving under his brown flannel shirt to find warm skin.
“She’s in the hospital.” My voice was shaky. “I don’t know if she’ll make it.”
“From everything you’ve told me, she sounds like a tough woman. All you Ellis women are.”
I nodded, but I didn’t want to let him go. I didn’t feel very strong right now.
“Kate,” he suddenly said.
I jolted, and realized Kate was hovering in the doorway.
“Can you get Piper a hot tea, lots of sugar.” His hand brushed the hair at the base of my neck.
